Музей караїмської історії та культури, що є структурним підрозділом Національного заповідника Давній Галич», знайомить відвідувачів з культурними та релігійними традиціями, історією, побутом і суспільним життям галицької караїмської громади.
The Karaites are a small Turkic-speaking people whose members adhere to Karaism, a religion that has sparked scholarly debates about its origins that continue to this day. But what connection does this people have to Halych and how did they end up here?
There are several versions of how the Karaites settled in Halych. According to one of them, the Karaites, who were mainly engaged in trade, arrived in the city during the Tatar-Mongol invasion in 1246 along with Khan Batu. The first few dozen families of Karaites settled on the right bank of the Dniester, not far from the wharf where boats with goods arrived. It was in this city of Halych, where the museum is located today, that the Karaite Street was founded with craft and trade rows.
The idea of creating a Museum in honor of the Karaites of Halych emerged in the late 1990s. At that time, the Karaite community numbered only 8 people. Such a drastic reduction posed a real threat to the disappearance of a significant layer of the material and spiritual culture of the city. As a result of scientific research, it was decided to create a thematic museum to preserve the cultural heritage of the region.
By 2000, it was decided which building would become the future Museum of Karaim History and Culture. It became a residential Karaite house from the late 19th century, located in the very center of the city. After 4 years of hard work, in 2004, the Museum welcomed its first visitors.
The exhibition occupies three exhibition halls and introduces guests to the cultural and religious traditions of the Karaites, as well as the everyday and social life of the Karaite community of Halych.
Among the museum exhibits are religious books, ritual and cult items, temple inventory, personal belongings, various archival documents (marriage and birth certificates, school certificates, various IDs, etc.), old photographs, and more.
The address and contact phone number can be found on the main site of the Karpaty Rocks portal.
